2023 is the “back to normal” year when most countries ended their COVID-19 restrictions. It feels like we lost three years, all thanks to COVID-19. I hope we will never experience something like that ever again in our lifetime.

Coffee
I jumped onto the coffee-making bandwagon and got myself stuck in the rabbit hole. Here is my setup:

  • Coffee Machine: Leli Bianca v3
  • Grinder: Niche Zero
  • Weighing Scale: Acaia Lunar, Timemore Black Mirror Nano
  • Tamper: The Force Temper With d-Flat Base
  • Tamping Station: Saint Anthony Industries The Bloc
  • WDT: 9-Prong Coffee WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) Tool By ikaruswill
  • Cupping Tray: Coffee Bean Dosing & Cupping Tray By ikaruswill
  • Puck: Normcore Ultra-Slim 0.2 mm Puck Screen
  • Dosing Funnel: Normcore Magnetic Dosing Funnel V2 Tall Version
  • Pitcher: Kruve Create Latte Art Pitcher
  • Container: Airscape Coffee Canister Small, Airscape Coffee Canister Large
  • Cup: Kruve Imagine Glassware Latte Plus, Kruve Imagine Porcelain Latte Plus

Gadgets/Tech
Since I have moved house, this is the year of me getting a lot of Aqara devices from Souky.

Apple
Finally, in April 2023, Apple HomePod was officially available in Singapore.

I got two new Apple devices. Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) for my new house and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to replace my Apple Watch Series 7. Li Xiang dropped her Apple Watch Series 3, and the screen came off. So I did a “hand-me-down” and passed her my Series 7.

Of course, for the usual yearly iPhone upgrade cycle. I got the 512GB iPhone 15 Pro Max in Natural Titanium.

PS5 “Slim”
I am waiting for Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Sadly, it is exclusive to PS5. So, I got myself the new PS5 “Slim” Digital Edition as my Christmas present during the 12/12 sales day for S$549. It is an export set from Japan.

Travel
It feels weird that it is back to normal, and throughout the whole year, I only traveled to Bangkok. And that happens at the end of October 2023.

Having said that, I will be going to Tokyo in February 2024.

What I Said In 2022

For 2023, probably the most significant change is I might be moving house to somewhere more central in Singapore. If that happens, I will re-look at all the devices I really need in a smart home again. The good thing about your second house is that you will know what you want and don’t like. It is like learning from all the mistakes made with your first house.

I did move to somewhere very central in Singapore, and I love the location. Going everywhere is so convenient now, whether by bus, MRT, or driving. It will get even more convenient in 2025 because an upcoming MRT station is just a 2-minute walk away as one of the entrances is just opposite my block. I hope it will be sheltered.

My new smart home setup is now primarily on Apple HomeKit, and most are Aqara devices. And for those devices (like my Lights and Ceiling Fan) that are not directly compatible with Apple HomeKit, I bridged them using Homebridge. Here is the list of plugins that I am using with Homebridge:

  • Homebridge UI – UI for Homebridge.
  • Homebridge Dummy – For me to create dummy switches for automation.
  • Homebridge Tuya Platform – My lights and ceiling fans are on Tuya.
  • Homebridge People Pro – This is much more accurate than Apple’s default Home/Away feature, which is based on geofencing. Instead, this plugin checks whether your iPhone is connected to your home Wi-Fi network.
  • Homebridge Magic Occupancy – A more advanced way to determine whether a room is occupied.

Also, shoutout to Starling Home Hub which makes all my Nest Cameras work flawlessly with Apple HomeKit. This works better than any of the Homebridge plugins for Nest Cameras.

For 2024
I like the Apple HomePod and use it to control my smart home daily. Though I wish it had a screen. I hope Apple will introduce an Apple HomePod with a screen sometime next year. I am not getting my hopes up, though.

My Apple iPad Pro 10.5″ will be 7 years old next year. It may be time for me to upgrade it.

At my new house, I am using the EverDesk Max Standing Desk as my gaming and working desk. I hope to get a separate gaming desk soon, as the setup is not conducive for either purpose.

Regarding traveling, I hope to visit Taiwan, Hong Kong or China towards the end of next year.

Wishing all my readers, visitors, and supporters a Happy New Year 2024! May we earn more money since inflation is still not stopping, and yet we have another war.

Looking Back 2023

51 posts were posted in 2023, accumulating 77 comments, and 305,344 views.
December 2023
31st
Looking Back 2023
29th
Sony DualSense Charging Station For PS5
26th
Sony DualSense Wireless Controller For PS5
22nd
GilletteLabs x Razer
19th
Sony PS5 “Slim” Digital Edition
13th
Roborock Dyad Air Review
November 2023
29th
Aqara Camera E1 Review
23rd
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
14th
Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter
6th
Aqara Wireless Remote Switch H1
2nd
Starling Home Hub
October 2023
30th
Ulti Flex Single Monitor Arm
26th
Aqara Water Leak Sensor
23rd
Aqara Wireless Mini Switch
16th
Mikit MT80
9th
Ariston Slim2 Lux-D Wi-Fi Review
2nd
Aqara Smart Door Lock D200i Review
September 2023
27th
Apple Watch Alpine Loop (Orange)
25th
Aqara TVOC Air Quality Monitor
20th
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Clear Case
18th
Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor
14th
Singtel iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, 15 Pro, And 15 Pro Max Price Plans
11th
Ugreen Nexode 100W Charger
4th
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad
August 2023
31st
Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger For Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K
28th
igloo’s 8th Anniversary
24th
Belkin BoostCharge Pro Dual USB-C GaN 65W Wall Charger
7th
Choo Chiang Is The Cheapest Place To Get Legrand Products In Singapore
2nd
Ugreen USB-A to USB-C Adapter
July 2023
20th
Belkin BoostCharge Pro Portable Fast Charger for Apple Watch
6th
UNI-T Cable Tester (UT681C)
June 2023
16th
Roborock Q Revo – First Roborock With Spinning Mop
6th
Dreame R20 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Review
May 2023
29th
Aqara Camera Hub G3 Review
22nd
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra Review
15th
Ugreen Nexode 65W Charger
8th
Ugreen DigiNest Cube
2nd
Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 Review
April 2023
25th
igloohome Bridge Review
20th
igloohome Smart PadLock 2 Review
March 2023
31st
Roborock S8 Now With DuoRoller, Improved 6,000Pa Suction, and VibraRise 2
28th
Apple HomePod And HomePod Mini Finally Officially Available in Singapore
25th
Happy 39th Birthday To Me
15th
Arlo Go 2 LTE/Wi-Fi Security Camera Review
9th
Acaia Lunar
6th
Niche Zero
February 2023
20th
Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 Review
6th
DYMO LabelManager 160
January 2023
25th
Aqara Smart Wall Switch H1 EU (With Neutral)
11th
Ulanzi ST-27 Metal Phone Tripod Mount
4th
Ulanzi U-PAD III Metal iPad Tripod Mount